Mahmoud Khalil’s Advocacy Continues After Immigration Detention

Anti-Israel advocate Mahmoud Khalil has expressed his intention to persist in his advocacy for Palestinian rights. He spoke upon arriving in New Jersey on his way back to New York City after spending three months in a Louisiana immigration detention center.

“I want to go back and continue my work. Defending Palestinian rights is something, perhaps, that this administration would like to punish,” Khalil stated. “The U.S. government is supporting this genocide, and Columbia University is also invested in it. That’s what I was protesting. Whether they killed me—or I killed myself—I’m still calling out to everyone and will continue to protest alongside you all.”

Khalil, who is 30 years old, was apprehended by immigration authorities on March 8 and spent 104 days in a detention facility. This was during a period when the Trump administration was working to deport Syrian-born permanent residents.

The administration alleged that Khalil was involved in activities associated with Hamas, the Palestinian group linked to the deadly attack on October 7, 2023.

Upon his release, Khalil was met by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in Newark. She mentioned, “We will keep fighting against the political persecution that’s occurring here,” addressing reporters about the ongoing situation.

Khalil was granted bail on Friday after a New Jersey U.S. District Judge, Michael Farbiarz, determined the government “clearly fails to meet” the criteria for his continued detention.

Flying to Newark Airport, he looked forward to reuniting with his wife and young son, who was born during his time in detention. Judge Farbiarz remarked that it is “very, very rare” for the government to detain legal residents unlikely to flee and who have not been charged with any violence.

Following his release, Khalil is subject to certain conditions, including surrendering his passport and restrictions on travel, confining him to New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Washington, D.C., and Louisiana.